The hall of fame basketball coach, who won 776 games and three state championships, announced tonight that he is stepping down after nearly five decades guiding varsity teams. Petty, 68, was open during the regular season about his plans to step down, but the official word came tonight at the awards banquet for James Clemens boys basketball, the program he led the past five seasons.

“I never did try to retire from working; it was the coaching I was trying to get out of at one time, but I couldn’t do it,” Petty said with a laugh. “Forty seven years is long enough. I’ve been in it a long time. While I’ve got my health, I want to be able to do some other things.”

Petty plans to use his new-found free time to travel, continue playing in the National Senior Games and get in better shape.

Petty was the first Alabama boys basketball coach to win state titles at three schools, doing so at Bob Jones (2010), Madison Academy (2006) and J.O. Johnson (1987).

“I’ll remember all the state championships,” Petty said. “The big thing is the people that I’ve met throughout the years and got to be friends with. If I had not gone to all these schools, I never would have met a lot of people who are good friends. And the Lord has blessed me with having good players and good assistant coaches. It has just been a blessing.”

Petty’s 2009 Bob Jones team was the 6A state runner-up, and his Johnson 1986 and 1983 squads reached the state semifinals. He also had stints with the Hazel Green boys, Madison Academy girls and Lincoln County (Tenn.) girls.

“Everywhere I’ve been, it just felt like it was time to move on,” Petty said. “I’ve been at seven schools and enjoyed every one of them. I just loved it wherever I’ve been.”

Petty was an Alabama coach of the year in 2010 (6A), 2006 (3A) and 1987 (6A), and a Tennessee district coach of the year in 2000. He was also named the 2010 Alabama boys basketball coach of the year by the National Federation of State High School Associations.

Petty was a north Alabama basketball legend before he ever got into coaching. During his senior season at Lee-Huntsville, he made the winning shot of the 1968 Class 4A state title game against Gadsden and was named tournament MVP. Petty was a member of The Huntsville Times 1960s All-Decade Team.

Petty went on to play at Snead State and Athens State. He has continued to compete through the years, winning gold at the 2013 National Senior Games, silver in 2009 and bronze in 2007.

Petty was inducted into the the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2012, and into the Huntsville-Madison County Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997.

Among Petty’s most recognizable past players are former Alabama starter Levi Randolph (Bob Jones), UAH men’s coach Lennie Acuff (J.O. Johnson) and Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Reggie Ragland (Bob Jones). Other Petty pupils included J.O. Johnson’s Bob Ford and Anthony Johnson, who were juniors on Lipscomb’s 1986 NAIA national championship team; Bob Jones’ Jeffery Moss, who helped Murray State reach the 2015 NIT quarterfinals; and Hazel Green’s Greg Watson, who would go on to coach the Trojans, and whose Crestview, Florida team recently won a state title.

Prior to becoming a varsity coach, Petty won more than 150 games during eight years at Davis Hills Middle and one season leading J.O. Johnson’s freshmen.